Safety Dillon Thieneman Cuts Down on Explosive Plays

The more I watched Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, the more I saw the vision.

Thieneman was here.

He was there.

Thieneman was pretty much everywhere on his 2025 game film. He was almost always in position. He was making tackles, and he was making assists. If nothing else, he was near the tackle pile or at least somewhere around the action.

I also noticed something else as I watched his film⎯

With his speed⎯

He was able to cut off his share of explosive plays by opposing offenses. And that right there is worth its weight in gold.

Did he do it every time?

No.

But he did it often.

Often enough to see the vision.

On defense ⎯

It’s all about forcing the offense to make more plays to get into scoring position. The more plays, the better. More plays mean more chances for offensive penalties and turnovers. There’s also more of a chance that a drive can bog down and stall.

Every play counts in the NFL.

A lot of these games are close.

Four games in this past season’s Wildcard round were decided by four points or less (CBS Sports), and 73 games total in 2025 were decided by three points or less (NFL Football Operations).

Having someone back there who can cut off explosive plays is huge.

+ Game planning flexibility

Speed is not the only thing Thieneman brings to the table.

He can line up at:

• Traditional safety depth
• Box safety (closer to the line of scrimmage)
• Over the slot (inside) receiver

Thieneman can run with just about anybody. He can run with running backs, tight ends, and most receivers. He’s especially good-looking in man coverage (when a defender is responsible for covering a specific offensive player wherever they go). I even saw him break in front of a couple of routes and break up those passes. He’s that good in man coverage.

Back at safety ⎯

He showed he could get over and provide “deep help” three times, and that’s important. He was inconsistent doing it, but it’s in him to do it.

Thieneman is a hybrid.

He’s a modern-day cross between a cornerback and a safety.

Biggest concern?

Thieneman struggles to get involved whenever he’s blocked.

Running plays.

Pass plays.

Didn’t matter.

I counted 51 run plays he couldn’t get off blocks, and two additional passing plays.

Improvements seen on film are confirmed by analytics

Did Thieneman look better on his game film in 2025 at Oregon compared to 2024 at Purdue?

Yes.

How did he improve?

• More aggressive-looking
• Better overall effort level
• Improved tackling (missed 10 tackles this season that I charted)

Pro Football Focus confirmed what I was seeing on film.

2024:

Defense grade: 72.4

Run defense grade: 65.6

Pass defense grade: 73.4

Tackling grade: 75.2

2025:

Defense grade: 91.0 📈

Run defense grade: 75.0📈

Pass defense grade: 81.0📈

Tackling grade: 87.1📈

#31 Dillon Thieneman 6-0, 201 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2026 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First Round prospect as of March 31, 2026

Safety Dillon Thieneman is Undependable (2024: 11 games evaluated)

2025 game film evaluated: Montana State, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, Oregon State, Penn State, Indiana, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, USC, Washington, James Madison, Texas Tech, and Indiana (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Good fit: Vikings

Note: 4.35 40-time (NFL.com)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Read and react damage control safety with elite range and some playmaking capability. Flows with the play flow. Sees it. Pursues it. Long arms. Tends to show aggressive intentions. Active. Twitchy. True to his assignment (to a fault). Slight hesitation at times. Lacks instincts. Takes some questionable angles playing the long play in support. Bites on play action and misdirection. Compensates with elite speed and short-area burst. Carries vertical routes in man. Solid in zone. Excels at bracket coverage. Fast downhill close. Blitzing upside. Started attacking ball carriers near the line of scrimmage and overcoming blocks even better as the season progressed.

Final words

Thieneman is only the third safety I’ve given a first-round grade to since the 2021 NFL Draft.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him, visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.